1. Presented by the UTA English Writing Center
Choosing Words Wisely
Presented by the UTA English Writing Center
Updated 11/20/2014 TW

2. Hosted by English Writing Center www.uta.edu/owl
A Division of the Department of English
Sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts

3. The Problem
Using the right word at the right time matters for clarity. Do you know what these words mean? If you are headed to the crag today make sure you fill your rack with a range of cams and stoppers or you will have to bail your beta flash attempt. The crux includes a dyno off an arête. Make sure you flag before you dyno or you will barn door.

4. Choosing Appropriate Synonyms
Every word has a denotation and a connotation:
Denotation – the formal meaning of words.
Denotative language uses straightforward, seemingly neutral words to describe people, events, ideas, and theories.
Connotation – the cultural and emotional baggage that words carry.
Connotative language describes people, events, ideas, and theories in words that carry special associations and allusions, i.e. words which are particularly vivid or emotional

5. Practice
When choosing the appropriate word to express the appropriate sentiment be sure to keep in mind that certain words carry certain cultural meanings and may change your intended meaning. Active vs. Enthusiastic vs. Fanatical Childlike vs. Childish vs. Youthful Frugal vs. Thrifty vs. Penny-pinching Inexpensive vs. Cheap Pushy vs. Aggressive Politician vs. Statesman Chef vs. Cook

6. Choosing Appropriate Synonyms
How do you know which words to use?
1. Consult a dictionary and/or thesaurus
2. Think critically about the suggestions made by your spell-checker on your word processor
3. Get a second opinion (reader)

7. Word Accuracy
A common mistake made by writers is confusion among homonyms and heteronyms.

8. Commonly Misused Words
“There” is an adverb of place. “Their” is a possessive pronoun. “They’re” is a contraction of “they are.”
“Your” is a possessive pronoun. “You’re” is a contraction of “you are.”
“Its” is a possessive pronoun. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.”
“Affect,” as a verb, means “to influence.” As a noun, it means “a feeling or emotion.” “Effect,” as a verb, means “to make or accomplish.” As a noun, it means “result.”

9. Other Misuses of Words
Many mistakes are made when forms of words are misused according to parts of speech.
For example, using the noun-form of a word instead of the verb-form.
Ex: Most dieters are not persistence enough to make a permanent change.
^ “Persistence” is a noun, but the adjective form is needed, which would be “persistent.”

10. Articles
Definite article – “The” – points to something specific: the book, the church, the criminal, the apple
Indefinite article – “a, an” – refers to something more generally: a book, a church, a criminal, an apple

11. Using Condensed Language
When revising look for words and phrases that can be condensed or simplified. There are several things that you should look for.
Sprawling Phrases
Nominalizations
Long Verb Phrases
Unneeded intensifiers, redundancies, and doublings
Prepositional Phrases
Relative Pronouns

12. Sprawling Phrases
Wordiness slows a reader’s way into a sentence, especially at the beginning.
Why Write…
When You Could Write …
In the event that
On the grounds that
Regardless of the fact that
It is obvious that
At this point in time If
Because
Although
Obviously
Now

13. Nominalizations
Nouns made by adding endings to verbs and adjectives. Avoid nominalizations that replace action verbs.
Wordy: A falsification of evidence has occurred.
Revised: Someone falsified evidence.

14. Long Verb Phrases
Some verb phrases are necessary; however, most are not. Try to condense the clutter of long verb phrases.
Why Write…
When You Could Write…
Give consideration to
Make acknowledgement of
Put the emphasis on
Is similar to
Consider
Acknowledge
Emphasize
Resembles

15. Intensifiers, Redundancies, and Doublings:
Why write…. When you could write…
We’re completely finished. We’re finished.
That’s absolutely pointless. That’s pointless.
Redundancies:
Why write… When you could write…
Trading activity was halted Trading was halted
Of a confidential nature Confidential
Her area of specialization Her specialty
Doublings:
Trim and slim fitting and proper
Ready and able willing and eager

16. Prepositional Phrases
Too many prepositional phrases can become burdensome for the reader.
Too Many: In late summer on the road from our town into the country, we expected to find raspberries in the fields near the highway by the recent construction.
Revised: We expected to find late-summer raspberries on the country road, near the recent construction.

17. Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns introduce modifying clause, but you can often cut them for economy.
Wordy: The book that I had quoted from was missing.
Revised: The book I had quoted from was missing.

18. Writing Center Tutoring
Visit our website at
Register as a WC client for an appointment or workshop at
We can help you at any stage of the writing process. However, we do not “fix” your paper; instead, we provide thoughtful feedback and facilitate discussions to help you grow and improve as a writer.